Patriarch Kirill arrived in Beijing

Beijing, May 12, Interfax - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Beijing on Friday morning.300-209

"The visit by His Holiness the Patriarch is aimed at further strengthening friendly relations between China and Russia. Orthodoxy has been playing a special role in the history of these bilateral ties. It was the Orthodox priests, members of the Russian spiritual mission in China, who came to the country in 1685 who did a great deal to introduce Russia to China and make relations between them closer," the patriarch's press service told Interfax-Religion.

During his visit, which will continue until May 15, Patriarch Kirill will hold meetings with China's leaders, as well as will meet with Orthodox believers on the premises of the Russian Embassy in Beijing, where he will visit the Church of the Assumption, which he personally helped rebuild. The church currently houses a museum of the Russian spiritual mission in China.

Apart from that, the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church will lead religious services at the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Harbin and in the building of Shanghai's former Orthodox cathedral. He will also meet with the leaders of local religious communities and ethnic Russians living in China and will see Chinese historical sites and relics.

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